Bojangles — Restaurant in Jackson Township

Upon approaching our new Bojangles on their grand opening day, the line of traffic was wrapped around the block from every angle. I’d previously read online going in would be way quicker. As we entered, we had no idea which direction the line was from beginning to end because it was THAT packed. The owner was outside helping to direct traffic which had to be wrapped around a serving building just to try to avoid inevitable traffic jams on the main streets. He was also witnessed running in and out helping hand deliver food to customers waiting outside. A gentleman whom I assume is associated with the franchise opening was standing at the door. We exchanged quick banter about the shortened menu which I personally feel shouldn’t have been shortened due this particular location as there are no good bone-in whole fried chicken places nearby. But alas, I was excited that the Chicken Tenders (aka Chicken Supremes in the southern locations),were on the menu! I specifically came for those, the sweet tea, Mac n Cheese, and for my husband to get to try the dirty rice and Cole slaw that he likes in other restaurants. The only item on my “must have” list I wanted to get to share with him was the sweet potato pie. However, they did have peach cobbler and he loves peachy desserts so it wasn’t a loss for dessert. I have been so excited and worked up about Bojangles coming to our location, anticipating the opening, after reading a couple reviews online on our drive in, I was a little anxious and nervous about how much I’d hyped this up to my husband. Haha! So back to the line, we chit chatted with the guy about the menu differences for a few minutes but the line was actually moving rather quickly AND one quick add in, I can’t stand the heat especially when places are packed…I was pleasantly surprised they had that AC blasting which was great for a 92° day. We get to the very front of the line where there are two cashiers, two customers in front of us…. And the (I’m assuming) manager says…. STOP TAKING ORDERS, WE ARE PAUSING ORDERS TO CATCH UP. I was sooooooo close! We waited there, right at the front for quite awhile. I’m only guessing here, but I feel like it was at least a good half hour or more. He then lets the girls start taking orders again with a side note to take their time slowwwwly. They did exactly as told and both were very thorough in making sure the orders were repeated back to the two customers in front of us, took their payments and then…..STOP TAKING ORDERS AGAIN. D’oh!!!!!! But we’re next! And they only took ONE order each!!! But we waited. Then the assumed to be manager stated his throat was getting hoarse from having to constantly talk and raise his voice to check on food availability and such. He then jokingly turned to the crowd to see if anyone had a cough drop or something. We joked back that we had some in the truck if he let the girls take our order! He took us up on the offer. Husband went to the truck, I placed our order. I got the biggest box there was with one each of the four sides so that we could enjoy this for a couple meals because after that wait, it’ll likely be a little while until the novelty wears down some before we attempt that line again (lol). My husband put the big box in the backseat, until he saw my look, and quickly realized the anticipation was ending now!!! We sat in the truck taking out all the items (luckily we did, we were missing our fries, he ran back in and got them quickly with no issues), I HAD to take a bite. I couldn’t wait. I had to know if it was the same taste I loved from the Bojangles in South Carolina! I WAS SOOO NOT DISAPPOINTED like I was worried after seeing other reviews. It was all so good! I’m now even more excited that they’re finally here, in Ohio! The next excitement is going to be when my daughter goes down and takes my grandsons! It’ll be their first time but for my daughter, it is a wonderful memory for her since growing up it was one of her absolute favorites! I do want to add although the majority of the staff were very young & brand new,...

I grew up in the South myself like many posters. I had a Bojangles located right down the street from my house, so I got it all the time. I too was excited when I saw we were getting a Bojangles in NE Ohio. I was initially disappointed to hear about the limited menu, waited a week plus after the opening to see if folks who'd left the poor reviews would eventually "get over" the initial disappointment and start leaving realistic, positive reviews about this place's offerings. I finally gave it my first visit this afternoon/early evening to see how it really was for myself.

While they don't have the bone-in chicken, the chicken tenders they do have certainly are not "processed" or "mediocre" like others have described them. You can tell the chicken is "real" and freshly made. It has that trademark Bo's infusion of cajun seasoning. And, while they're no "skin" on the chicken like one reviewer recently said, the breading that is on the chicken tenders is trademark Bo-style. And quite honestly in eating them it's like eating a bone-in breast of chicken (covered on all sides of the piece without having to "fiddle" with the bone. It's a win-win in my opinion. The fries tasted as they always have. So too did the biscuits. Service was fast and friendly.

Now there are some "kinks" that should be ironed out still or some things I've read in the reviews and after trying things, agree with myself about this place. One of those items is the quality of the sweet tea. Sweet tea is a "holy experience" or "revered practice" in the South. We take a lot of pride when making and serving tea. I'm been to Bo's hundreds of times in the South in my life. The tea bags are not being steeped enough to give the tea a rich flavor. You can tell because it tastes a bit weak. So, freshly made Southern sweet tea fans like myself, you'll definitely understand what myself and others are talking about. This needs to be worked on by this location.

Another issue is portion sizes for the price (as others have mentioned). I actually was a bit "shocked" when I opened up the box the 3-tender meal came in. Portions seemed a bit "emaciated" or "light" compared to at least Cane's. I think perhaps the tenders are around the same size, but certainly the sides (like fries) are not. The portion size of the fries was more of a "tease." So I think being less skimpy on the fries/fixins is important -- at least for the price ($9.99 for a 3-piece tender combo).

One other issue for me was the fact that there's only one spice level. I believe when I used to go to Bojangles down South, there were two options -- essentially a more mild option then a step up. I understand from reading the reviews some people are sensitive to spice which is why those people may feel that the food is "too spicy;" however, those of us familiar with Bo's are probably used to having a bit more of a "kick" when eating Bo's. I wish there was an option to "amp it up" a bit more for those of us used to going with the stepped up spice level down South. I realize there are dipping sauces (and likely hot sauce), but any real southerner knows that food is initially supposed to be able to be flavorful/stand on its own without any "sauces." I know the chicken I used to get at Bojangles growing up did that. I just wish there were spice level options for these tenders too.

All in all, I think that this Bo's, while exactly not the same as the locations down South, offers one those familiar flavors that they love so much from having visited the full-menu locations. And I think that the flavors Bo's is putting out there at this location isn't the same old, same old that the other chicken tender locales nearby are offering. I think it's something unique even with its limited menu. Tenders and fries, for example, at either one of the other places mentioned above are really nothing that great to write home about. At least, Bo's offers a different spin on flavor that's different...

The Perfect Biscuit, Great Service

I've always been a Bojangles fan. Their biscuits put Chic-fil-a to shame, but I still love Popeye's biscuits because of their salty, buttery exteriors.

It was so good that we returned, multiple times, on our trip.

I've never really been a Chicken Biscuit kind of guy in the morning, opting for sausage in my breakfast (which was also good, but McDonald's unfortunately holds the monopoly on perfect sausage patties) and chicken for my lunch sandwich (Bojangles' lunch and dinner is also great), but I'm a fan of the Chicken Biscuit, now.

The workers here are really pleasant. The girls are all very pretty and polite and the managers really care about their jobs; something which is exceedingly rare, these days.

Everyone made me feel like I was back in the South with their friendliness and with the quality of the product.

Also, as someone who has worked in the service industry, I was extremely impressed by the franchise owner (?), who I suppose owns both this restaurant and the next door coffee shop. Throughout our breakfast, he was walking around the property, picking up any litter, stones that had fallen into the parking lot from the landscaping features, cleaned up a few tables, and in general, seemed to actually care about providing a good experience and keeping the town nice.

The employees also mostly kept up with wiping down tables and grabbing trays when customers left.

Biscuits are made fresh, from scratch, and the frying oil never left our food with an acrid taste, which means everything is being cleaned and changed properly.

My only real criticism is that the peach cobbler is way too sweet, doesn't have enough peaches (it's most "goop") and that the icing isn't necessary or very appealing.

Overall, we were very impressed with the A Job Done Right attitude of the place and would be happy to return. Definitely give Bojangles your business. They're affordable,...